Ossett Town

Ossett Town AFC were formed in 1936 when, during a public meeting, the Mayor of the Borough of Ossett charged John Carter, a former Yorkshire League Referee, with bringing Ossett a football team.

In 2003–04 the club won promotion to the NPL Premier Division and competed for seven seasons before a relegation at the end of the 2010–11 season, and the first since 1980.

1936–1969: the early years

The club started out in the Leeds League, which was renamed The West Yorkshire League in 1939, before switching to the Heavy Woollen League, so called due to the heavyweight cloth manufactured in the area during the Second World War.

After the war, in 1945, Ossett Town joined the Yorkshire League. In 1948–49 the club recorded a record victory in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, beating David Brown Athletic 11–0 away from home. In 1949–50 the club won the West Riding County Senior Cup, its first honour, and finished the season in a club high third place, scoring 120 goals in the process.

During this period, and through into the 1950s the Yorkshire League contained the 'A' teams of Leeds United, Huddersfield Town as well as both Sheffield sides, Doncaster Rovers and Barnsley, at this time often topped the 1000 mark.

With these sides came players including John Charles, Denis Law, Ray Wilson, Peter Swan, Tommy Taylor and Jack Charlton.

Derrick Blackburn was sold to Swansea Town (now Swansea City), in 1957 for £1,350 and with this newfound wealth the club bought the Ingfield site, where the club still play to this day. Previously the team had played on a pitch behind the Fern House Working Men's Club on Wakefield Road as well as a pitch on Back Lance after the Army had commandeered Fern House during the Second World War.

The club moved to the new Ingfield ground in 1959, just after being relegated from Division One and celebrated the first season at Ingfield with a 3rd-place finish and promotion straight back to the First Division of the Yorkshire League, as well as a first West Riding County Cup success but had a second relegation in 1960–61.

1970–1982: the Yorkshire League

Following a restructure of the Yorkshire League the club found itself in the third division in 1970, by which time long=serving player Frank Lloyd, who would spend 50 years with Ossett Town, became manager. He signed two former Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town strikers Len White (who scored 153 goals for Newcastle) and Jim Kerray.

During this period Graham Firth joined the playing staff as a teenager and would go on to become the club's first commercial manager as well as groundsman, barman and long-serving chairman. Frank Lloyd relinquished the managerial role and became club secretary.

Through the '70s the club climbed from the third division to the first division before returning to the second Division in 1980, where they finished as runners up during the final season of the Yorkshire League.

1982–1999: Northern Counties East League

Following the merger with the Midlands League the North East Counties League (NCEL) was formed. 1982 also saw Town collect its final County Cup win in a 2–0 victory over Bradley Rangers at Huddersfield Town's Leeds Road.

Graham Firth began his 28-year stint as chairman in the mid-1980s. In 1987, floodlights were erected for the first time, new dressing rooms built, the clubhouse extended and the pitch re-laid at considerable cost.

Micky Bullock was appointed as manager and the club hosted Manchester United in a pre-season friendly where Lee Sharpe made his debut. A club record attendance of 2,600 was also set. Local businessman Peter Wilkinson joined the committee as football chairman, as Graham Firth ran the off-field side of the club.

The club won the NCEL second division title that season before a second promotion saw them start the 1990–91 season in the NCEL Premier Division. The 1989–90 season was the last time the club won a trophy, lifting the NCEL League Cup thanks to a shock victory over FA Vase finalist Bridlington Town, who were managed by future Town boss John Reed.

The club had nine consecutive seasons in the Premier Division as they slowly prepared for the next step up in the pyramid. They achieved this at the end of the 1998–99 season when promotion to the Northern Premier League (NPL) was gained thanks to a second-place finish. Ossett Albion came first that season, but due to ground grading issues, something that was to affect Ossett Town a few years later, promotion was denied, and Town took the opportunity handed to them.

However, founder John Carter did not see the club reach the NPL, dying in 1994 age 88 after having performed every off-field role at the club including chairman, secretary and manager.

1999–2004: the Northern Premier League First Division

Gary Brook was player manager at this time, and following promotion guided the club to two eighth-place finishes in the NPL First Division, a mention in The Sun as their team of the week after a 7–1 away win at Whitley Bay, and also a run to the second round of the FA Trophy when 1,100 people came to Ingfield to see former League side Doncaster Rovers sneak away with a 1–0 victory.

Ossett Town's third season in the NPL, 2001–02, saw Town win their opening four games scoring 12 times. The season ended with a second-place finish, an automatic promotion place, as ground improvements were delayed twelve hours due to inclement weather and promotion denied.

Gary Brook remained at the club, but a number of players moved on. The Reds ended the following season in 20th place, ten points above the relegation places.

The 2003–04 season saw a league re-structure with the introduction of the conference North and South, and the club were promoted to the NPL Premier Division. Scott Cooper replaced Brook but was soon replaced by Steve Richards.

2004–2011: the Northern Premier League Premier Division

Richards took Town to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in 2005–06, the club's best run to date. They beat Stocksbridge Park Steels, Consett and Matlock Town to set up a home tie with Leamington Spa, with the winners earning a place in the FA Cup first round.

In front of 900 people Leamington Spa progressed to earn a trip to Colchester United, where the League side progressed thanks to a 9–1 win. Despite the Cup run the league form deserted Town. Richards was replaced by Steve Kittrick.

The Reds ended the season in 11th place and topped that in 2006–07 with a tenth-place finish, the club's highest league position in the Football Pyramid.

Things took a downward turn the following year. Despite a positive start to the season relegation was only avoided on goal difference as Kittrick left the club for Guiseley and a number of players followed him. Simon Collins took the helm and despite being favourites for relegation ended the season in 12th.

During that year, Frank Lloyd died at age 81. In honour of his 50 years at the club the Directors room was renamed the Frank Lloyd Hospitality Suite in his memory.